Maury County TN Archives History - Books .....Maury Co. In The Civil War 1906 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tn/tnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com September 18, 2005, 7:19 am Book Title: Century Review Secession.-In January, 1861, the majority vote of Tennessee declared largely against secession, although the seven Southern States were organizing a provisional government, or Confederacy, at Montgomery, Ala.; but in June following it was carried by 61,173 in a total vote of 108,511, and within ten months following fifty regiments had been contributed to the Confederate cause, the total during the war having been about 100,000. The Federal side received 31,092 recruits from this State, of whom 20,133 were negroes. The eastern portion of the State was more loyal to the Union cause, but much of the State proved to be a camping ground for the armies at some period of the war. Noted battles were fought at Nashville, Hartsville, Shiloh, Ft. Donelson, Murfreesboro (Stone River), Island No. 10, Chattanooga (Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain), Knoxville, Franklin, and numerous smaller engagements. Numbers Engaged.-Actual statistics of enlistments from the South are difficult to verify. Dr. W. J. McMurray's "History of the Twentieth Tennessee Regiment" claims that but 615,000 men took up arms for the South; but other writers have generally estimated 700,000 or more, of whom perhaps one-third succumbed within those four dreadful years, 1861-5. The Union records show 2,653,062 enlistments, of which a large percentage was reenlistments after having served from three months to three years; but the Federal rolls on Mar. 1, 1865, showed 965,591 men. During the war 320,000 Federal soldiers succumbed to wounds or disease, while half as many more died in consequence thereof within the next few years-making a combined total in both armies of probably three-fourths of a million of men who gave their lives to the great Civil War. Hostilities commenced April 12, 1861, at Ft. Sumter, near Charleston, S. C.; and the war was practically closed by the surrender of Gen. Lee's 35,000 veterans to Gen. Grant, April 9, 1865. Five days later President Lincoln was shot by Jno. Wilkes Booth. In 1865 the Tennessee Legislature ratified the thirteenth constitutional amendment, sent its Representatives to Congress, and reorganized the State Government. Maury Co. in War.-The compiler will not attempt to give details of the many interesting, tragical, and heart-rending events which transpired within this county during the Civil War, leaving to Judge Smith or others these features for incorporation in an exhaustive history. The design of this Review being for wide distribution, its pages must be limited. In Jan., 1861, the vote favored remaining with the Union; but after Lincoln's call for troops and the commencement of hostilities, sentiment rapidly changed; and the second popular vote, by order of the Legislature, taken June 8, 1861, resulted in Maury Co. recording 2,731 votes for secession and only 58 against it. About twenty companies were enlisted from this county. The Federal Army reached Columbia in March, 1862. After the fall of Ft. Donelson, Gen. Buell's advance was checked by Duck River's unfordable condition. A bridge was in progress at Columbia, but uncompleted; and Nelson's Brigade waded the stream here. By forced marches, Buell's reinforcements reached the Tennessee on the evening of the first day's fight at Shiloh, converting the Federal defeat into a victory. Gen. J. S. Negley, of Pennsylvania, was in command of this division, with headquarters at the Columbia Athenaeum for five months. In August, 1862, the Bragg-Buell foot race in Kentucky caused the withdrawal of the Federal troops from this county. A few sympathizers had joined the Union Army here, some of them acting as scouts in the various expeditions against "guerillas." From September, 1862, to July, 1863, the Confederate forces camped in this county, drawing extensively from this fertile agricultural section for supplies to their army encamped along the N., C. & St. L. Ry., especially after Bragg fell back to Tullahoma after the battle of Murfreesboro-Jan., 1863. This wing was under command of the famous cavalry general, Van Dorn, who was later killed at Spring Hill in a personal encounter with Dr. Peters. Wheeler, Forrest, and other generals also served in this vicinity. When Bragg concentrated against Chattanooga-July, 1863-Maury Co. again fell into the hands of the Federals, who held possession until late in Nov., 1864, when Hood's forces suddenly caused them to retire. The leading battles of "Hood's Raid" were: Franklin, Nov. 30; Nashville, Dec. 15, 16- the latter resulting in a Confederate rout. On Dec. 20, 1864, the Federals occupied Columbia for the third time, continuing until the close of the war. No large battle was fought in Maury Co. within the four years of conflict, but numerous skirmishes took place. Additional Comments: From: CENTURY REVIEW 1805 - 1905 MAURY COUNTY, TENNESSEE A Condensation of the Most Important Events of the Past One Hundred Years, and Descriptive Sketches of the Cities and Villages File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/maury/history/1906/centuryr/maurycoi16nms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/tnfiles/ File size: 5.5 Kb